asked the Taoiseach whether in connection with the Census of Population, 1956, a special inquiry was carried out into the use and knowledge of the Irish language in all households situated in certain areas; and if he will state in relation to the areas included in the Gaeltacht Areas Order, 1956, and in respect of the relative areas in each of the counties of Galway, Donegal, Mayo, Kerry, Cork and Waterford (a) the total number of (i) households and (ii) persons in the areas, and (b) the total number of persons of three years of age and over, and of these (i) the number who can speak Irish only, (ii) the number who can speak Irish and English, and (iii) the totals of such.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Census of Population: Language Statistics.
6.
In conjunction with the Census of Population, 1956, a special inquiry was carried out into the use and knowledge of the Irish language in respect of all households situated in the Gaeltacht areas, as defined by Coimisiún na Gaeltachta, 1925. At previous Censuses of Population, where information as regards knowledge of Irish was obtained, this was got by means of a special question on the Household Schedule completed by the individual heads of households. In 1956 the basic data on use and knowledge of the language were elicited by means of a special return completed by the Enumerators after oral questioning. The Enumerators in the areas concerned were members of the Gárda Síochána.
After the completion of the 1956 Inquiry an independent check was carried out in a sample of districts by Inspectors of the Primary Education Branch of the Department of Education with a view both to assessing the general standards applied by the Census Enumerators and to ascertaining whether these standards were uniform in different areas. This investigation revealed, both as regards use and knowledge of the Irish language, very wide discrepancies between the average standards of the Census Enumerators and of the Department Inspectors and also showed that there were considerable differences between individual Census Enumerators. A comparison of the 1956 results with those of the 1946 Census also disclosed wide and inexplicable variations.
I am advised by the Central Statistics Office that in the light of these findings, the data obtained from the 1956 inquiry into the Irish language are not sufficiently reliable to merit official publication.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say, in view of what he has just stated, whether the Gaeltacht Ministry is taking any steps to get an accurate enumeration made?
First of all, I should want notice of that question. I am not quite sure what activity is in progress there at the moment. This data is available but, for the reasons which have been explained in the reply, it cannot be regarded as very reliable. For what it is worth, I would be prepared to send it privately to the Deputy. It is necessary, however, to emphasise all the qualifications that must attach to it.
It is desirable that the comparative figures should be available, together with a comment made either by the Department of Education and the Statistics Office, or by both. Competent and intelligent persons on the side of both the Gárda Síochána and the Department of Education side were involved and it would be very interesting to see where the discrepancy arose from the point of view of standards. It would be interesting to see also whether there are separate figures on the Department of Education side as compared with the figures on the Statistics side.
I shall send the Deputy the return but, in view of the wide variations in the standards adopted by the enumerators, it will be obvious to him, I think, that only very limited use can be made of it.
Might I suggest to the Taoiseach that the next time a check is being made, since it is obvious somebody is cooking the figures, he should ensure that the census taken is a true census?
I do not agree with that at all. Any Deputy who understands the problem will realise the difficulty in securing the services of enumerators in an inquiry of this kind, enumerators who can apply the standards necessary to secure uniformity over a wide area.